Atiku accuses Tinubu of using EFCC to target opposition leaders, calling Tambuwal’s detention politically motivated and harmful to democracy
The Atiku accuses Tinubu of using EFCC to target opposition in a stinging rebuke of what he calls a politicized anti-corruption campaign.
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The former vice president said the Tinubu administration has turned the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission into a weapon against political rivals, citing the detention of former Sokoto State Governor Senator Aminu Waziri Tambuwal as a prime example.
In a statement on Tuesday, Atiku described Tambuwal’s August 11 detention as “purely political,” alleging it stemmed from his involvement in an opposition coalition preparing to challenge President Bola Tinubu in 2027.
“The Tinubu administration has objectified the fight against corruption to harass, intimidate, and decimate the opposition,” Atiku declared, warning that such tactics erode the EFCC’s credibility.
He accused the government of selectively prosecuting opposition leaders while shielding defectors to the ruling All Progressives Congress from scrutiny.
“Anyone who associates with the opposition is a target for phantom corruption allegations, but their ‘sins’ are forgiven once they align with Tinubu’s political agenda,” Atiku said.
Tambuwal faces allegations of fraudulent cash withdrawals amounting to ₦189 billion during his time as Sokoto governor from 2015 to 2023, charges the EFCC says contravene the Money Laundering (Prevention & Prohibition) Act, 2022.
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Atiku urged civil society and the international community to resist what he called “anti-democratic machinations” designed to turn Nigeria into a one-party state. “We will never succumb,” he vowed.
